Russell Herman Conwell was one of the most interesting Americans who lived in the 19th century. He was a lawyer and a clergyman.

One day, a young man went to him and told him he wanted a college education but couldn’t swing it financially.

Dr. Conwell decided that his aim in life would be to build a university for unfortunate, but deserving, students.

He did have a challenge, however. He would need a few million dollars to build it.

Dr. Conwell was committed to buildin his college. Nothing could stand in the way of his goal.

Several years before he decided to build his college, Dr. Conwell heard a true story with an ageless moral.

The story was about a farmer who lived in Africa and became tremendously excited about looking for diamonds.

Diamonds had already been discovered in abundance on the African continent. This farmer got so excited about the idea of millions of dollars worth of diamonds that he sold his farm to head out to the diamond line.

He wandered all over the continent constantly searching for diamonds and wealth, which he never found.

Eventually he went completely broke and threw himself into a river and drowned.

Meanwhile, the new owner of his farm picked up an unusual looking rock about the size of a country egg and put it on his mantle as a sort of curiosity.

A visitor told the new owner of the farm that the funny looking rock on his mantle was about the biggest diamond that had ever been found.

The new owner of the farm said, “Heck, the whole farm is covered with them” – and sure enough it was.

The farm turned out to be the Kimberly Diamond Mine…the richest the world has ever known. The original farmer was literally standing on “Acres of Diamonds” until he sold his farm.

Dr. Conwell learned from the story of the farmer and continued to teach it’s moral. Each of us is right in the middle of our own “Acre of Diamonds”, if only we would realize it and develop the ground we are standing on before charging off in search of greener pastures.

Dr. Conwelltold this story many times and attracted enormous audiences. He told the story long enough to raise the money he neede to start the college for underprivileged deserving students.

In all, he raised nearly six million dollars and the university he founded, Temple University in Philadelphia,has at least ten degree-granting colleges and six other schools. Today, it is part of the Pennsylvania State Higher Education System.

When Doctor Russell H. Conwell talked about each of us being right on our own “Acre of Diamonds”, he meant it. This story does not get old. It will be true forever.

What diamonds are you standing on without even realizing it?

Opportunity does not just come along – it is there all the time – we just have to see it.